Book Review
A short overview of this book
Private Parts are Private: Learning private parts are private and what to do if touched inappropriately by Jayneen Sanders (Little Big Chats) is a lovely little book that will help parents with teaching this important message to their children. This book reinforces the correct anatomical names children and adults should use for the private parts; and teaches children what they should do if they are touched inappropriately.
This book belongs to the Little BIG Chats series, which consists of 12 books that have been written to help parents to start talking about important topics. There’s a discussion guide at the back, with some pages of the book including helpful questions to ask your child as you read.
I really like this approach of a topic a book, and they would be a fantastic collection of books to have. It would be very easy to read a different one of these each night with your children.
There are 12 books in the Little BIG Chats series:
- Empathy: Exploring the meaning of empathy and kindness
- I Always Try: Developing a growth mindset of resilience and persistence
- Feelings: Understanding different feelings and emotions
- Everyone is Equal: Introducing the importance of gender equality and diversity
- Around the World: Celebrating the importance of racial equality and diversity
- Mindfulness: Exploring the importance of mindfulness and learning calming skills
- Families: Celebrating diversity in families
- Consent: Introducing consent and body boundaries
- My Safety Network: Introducing a Safety Network (3 to 5 trusted adults a child can go to if they feel unsafe)
- My Early Warning Signs: Exploring Early Warning Signs and what to do if a child experiences these signs
- Private Parts are Private: Learning private parts are private and what to do if touched inappropriately
- Secrets and Surprises: Learning the difference between secrets and surprises
The Body Safety titles should ideally be read in the following order: Consent, My Safety Network, My Early Warning Signs, Private Parts are Private, and Secrets and Surprises. The remaining titles can be read in any order.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 3 to 6 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Private Parts are Private by Jayneen Sanders (Little Big Chats) from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue with Cath Hakanson. I’m here to help parents like you find an easier way to talk to your kids about love, sex, relationships, and growing up. Today, I want to review a book that’s perfect for young children. It’s called Private Parts of Private: Learning Private Parts of Private, and What to Do if Touched Inappropriately by Janine Sanders.
This book is part of a series called the Little Big Chat series, which consists of 12 books that tackle big topics in a way that kids can understand. So, let’s dive into it!
The book starts off by explaining what it’s about and why it’s important to talk about these things with your kids. It also gives you some tips on how to use the book effectively. Then, we meet Ben, who is learning about private parts. The book emphasizes the importance of using the correct names for these body parts. It’s inclusive too, as it mentions that boys usually have certain body parts, but it’s not limited to just boys. So, if you have a gender diverse child, this book will work for you too.
Now, here’s where I have a small issue with the book. It refers to the testicles as the part that boys have, but in reality, the testicles are on the inside. The outside part is called the scrotum. I believe in teaching kids the correct terms, so I would personally use the word scrotum instead. The book also labels the girls’ body parts, which is great. However, I think it’s important to mention that nipples and a mouth are for everyone, regardless of gender. But I understand that the book addresses this because girls tend to cover their chests as they get older, which is a societal expectation.
The book goes on to talk about the rules surrounding private parts, emphasizing that they belong only to the individual. It also mentions that when children were babies, their parents helped take care of those parts, but now that they’re older, they can take care of them on their own. It then addresses the issue of someone touching their private parts without permission, asking them to touch someone else’s private parts, or showing them inappropriate pictures. The book encourages children to say Stop, this is my body if any of these situations occur. I would add that children should also speak up if someone asks to touch them, as children often ask before touching others.
No book is perfect, including the ones I write myself. We can always find things we could have done differently. So, keep in mind that you can adapt the book to include the things you want to talk about with your child.
The book also advises children to tell someone from their safety network if something inappropriate happens. That’s why these books in the series work so well together. The messages overlap and reinforce each other. It also provides guidance on what to say if they feel scared and encourages them to go and tell someone they trust. It briefly mentions that sometimes a doctor might need to examine or touch their private parts if they’re sick, but only if there’s an adult from their safety network present. The book emphasizes that the doctor should always ask for permission first. We all know that doesn’t always happen, but you can prepare your child by letting them know that the doctor will ask before touching them.
Finally, the book ends with a powerful message: Remember, you’re the boss of your body. What you say goes. Jay, the character in the book, also provides discussion questions at the back that you can use to extend the conversation with your child.
Overall, I think this is a great little book, and I love the concept of having a series of books that cover different topics. It’s a fantastic resource for parents like you who want to have open and honest conversations with their kids.
Cheers!
